Ralph grows up longing to help his single mom, who struggles to provide for the family. He takes odd jobs, starts drinking, quits school, gets in trouble. He marries at seventeen. Drawn into organized crime, Ralph is confronted by a hitman but dissuades him. He’s nearly killed in an accident, but lives to serve his time in prison. During second time in prison, no one visits except evangelist, who gives him a Bible. Ralph reads and believes. Marriage healed; he now runs a rescue mission.

Nadine endures abandonment by her mother and an abusive father who raises them on a farm. She and sister do all the farm work and go to school. Her health breaks down. A school friend invites her to church where she learns God loves her. She goes to Bible college. Sisters profess faith in Christ, but father dies without repentance. Nadine and husband, Roger, serve the Lord in children’s ministries.

Although family is poor, Howard is born with musical talent and he helps support family by playing the piano in burlesque theatres in Chicago. Wine, women and son lead him astray, to the horror of his Christian parents. He marries Ruth, a chaste Christian, but can’t give up the old life. He visits Pacific Garden Mission often for coffee but resists the gospel until his wife issues ultimatum. He goes to PGM and receives Christ as Savior, rejects old life and plays music for Lord thereafter.

Willie becomes addicted to pornography at fourteen, cocaine at twenty-two. Alcohol leads him to violence and blackouts. He’s arrested but slips by with fines. He lives with a woman, decides to marry and wants his dad to be best man. His dad is dying of cancer, and Willie sees his dad accept Christ before he dies. Willie’s drug addiction grows so bad, his wife issues ultimatum. He goes to see brother, is discipled by Christian, prays for salvation at work.

Bill stays out of trouble growing up, works at being a good boy until he’s a teenager and challenges the pastor. College and career leave him feeling empty, so he decides to walk across America. Besieged by witnesses of Christ everywhere he goes, he reaches Denver and stops for nine months to work, then walks to Seattle, reading the Bible. Proud and self-reliant, he doesn’t realize he’s a sinner until he lies to Canadian customs. Then he prays a sincere prayer of repentance and is born-again. Now walks with the Lord as a pastor.

“Polly”’s mother is born-again, so he grows up in church knowing about Jesus. His dad is a drunkard, but Polly hates the taste of alcohol until he joins the Navy. Afterward, he drinks too much, even after he marries. While drunk, a stranger offers him a ride and shoots Polly, who nearly dies. Wife receives Christ, Polly is left nearly blind. His drinking worsens until family takes him to state hospital for rehab. There he cries out to God and is gloriously saved.

Richard grows up in poverty without God. Two brothers have muscular dystrophy. Joins army after graduation and goes to fight in Korea. Christian buddy influences him but back home he begins drinking hard after father’s death. Head-on collision while drunk nearly kills a boy. He joins Air Force, falls in love with woman who loves the Lord. Goes to church with her and is saved. Richard gets muscular dystrophy later but continues to serve God.

In spite of a God-fearing, loving family, James is a rebellious teenager who lies, vandalizes and drinks. When a friend accidentally shoots him below the eye, James fears death but is too proud to pray. He survives and carries on as before. God and his parents help him through crises, but James is ungrateful and bitter. Unable to bear his sin, he cries out to God, then talks with a pastor who leads him to Christ and a changed life.

His father dies when Ron is ten. Then Ron gets rheumatic fever and spends a year in a convalescent home. Family disintegrates as Mom drinks and kids turn to drugs and crime. Many confrontations with police, ever trapped, scared and risking death, Ron goes to prison at age 25. Hears gospel message and wants to change, but goes back to drugs and crime when he’s released. Sister takes him to church where he is saved. Now serves in prison ministry.

Drunken abusive father puts Steve’s mother in mental hospital. Living with Grandpa introduces him to love and fear of God but is short-lived. Poverty and fear are Steve’s lot in life. He runs away at thirteen. Sleeping here and there, he stays in school. Friends take him to revival one night and he wants salvation but is too ashamed. A friend leads him to Christ in the parking lot. His friend’s family adopt Steve. Now married with nine children.